C8 Disc Herniations Respond to McHenry Chiropractic

Thoracic disc herniations. They’re not very ordinary. They are not mentioned much. But thoracic disc herniations do exist. The C7/T1 disc herniations are even more unusual and are shared in the spine literature more due to their unusualness. OrthoIllinois Chiropractic embraces unusual! Unusual deserves care and attention. OrthoIllinois Chiropractic tends to unusual presentations like thoracic disc herniations, specifically those at the C7/T1 level of the spine which is also known as the cervicothoracic junction where the neck links with the upper back.

C7/T1 disc herniations are unusual from their adjacent segments, cervical disc herniations (neck) and thoracic disc herniations (mid-back). Why? They are inclined to herniate laterally (out to the side) rather than centrally. What makes that unusual? The C7/T1 disc level does not typically have Luschka joints. These joints secure the intervertebral discs in place and reduce the risk of herniation. They allow flexion and extension and control the amount of lateral flexion in the cervical spine. One medical report documents a rare existence of a central C7/T1 disc herniation that triggered lower extremity numbness and weakness as well as gait disturbance though in a patient who tells of no or very little hand pain or numbness that would otherwise be expected. (1) Know that your McHenry chiropractor will perform a careful examination and figure out the root cause of your pain with familiarity of unusual occurrences like this.

C7/T1 disc herniations make up 3.5% to 4% of all herniated cervical discs. (2,3) They are likely to be misdiagnosed due to their unusual neurological findings. C7/T1 disc herniations (aka herniations of the C8 disc) produce weakness in hand muscles.  The C8 nerve roots exit between the C7 and T1 vertebrae. (4) They sit above the C8 disc making it unusual for a disc herniation to press on the C8 nerve. (5) But when it does, a C7/T1 disc herniation usually sends pain down the arm into the ring and pinky fingers (which sometimes confuses the case as pain here also suggests of ulnar neuropathy). (3,4) It won’t be confusing to your McHenry chiropractor though! OrthoIllinois Chiropractic knows the tests to do and questions to ask to determine the diagnosis.

Listen to a podcast about neck pain helped with Cox Technic.